FAMILY NAME HISTORY

The Spanish (Catalan) family name Rocamora is classified as being of habitation name origin. Habitation names are those family names which are derived from either the location of the place of residence of the initial bearer or from the name of the town or village from where he hailed. In this particular instance the Rocamora is derived from the place named Rocamora de Argensola or Rocamora de San Magi, both located in the province of Barcelona, Spain. Thus the original bearer of this name was known by members of his community as the “one from Rocamora” and adopted it as a family name. The place name Rocamora is derived from the Castilian word “roca’ meaning rock and “mora” meaning mulberry, blackberry. Before the hereditary system of surnames was formally established, it was popular to adopt a second name that served as identification in order to distinguish between those persons that bore the same personal name. One of the earliest references to this name or to a variant is a record of one Pedro Rocamora who according to the author Mosen Febrer, was of French origin, and who took part in the conquest of Valencia with King Jaime II of Aragon. Other authors state that the Rocamora Family was originally from Catalonia and descend from Ramon de Rocamora, a noble Catalan who intervened the conquest of Alicante and was awarded houses in Orijuela. In the index of the “Archiba Military de Segobia” we find documented the following bearers of surname, with their respective regiment given: Doktor Antonio Rocamora, Department of Military Health in 1786; Jose Rocamora, in the Honored Infantry in 1811; Tomas Rocamora, in the Cavalry in 1750; Vicente Rocamora, illustrious Marquis de Rafael, in the Infantry 1808 and Esteban Rocamora Molins, in the Carabineers in 1821.

THE ROCAMORA CLAN IN THE PHILIPPINES

Don Clodualdo Rocamora, our great grand father came from Toledo, Spain in the last 18th century. He came to the Philippines as an official of the Tabacalera, the business empire buying Philipppine tobacco products. Now their contemporary business includes products of whisky FUNDADOR. Our great grandfather was able to establish his family in Gihulngan,Negros Oriental and later moved to Barili, Cebu as the base of operation of Tabacalera. He had five offsprings namely, Antonio, Carmen, Clotilde, Salvador, and the fifth child, Conchita. Our great grandmothers name was Epifania Santos who hails from Ilocus, Sur. Our great grandfather Cloduado, was famous with the people of Barili, that at one time when the Spanish guards wanted to attack the Barili rebels, our great grandfather pacified the Spanish authorities thus the town was spared from calamities. The residents were very happy to have the Rocamoras in their town such that by that contribution to their peace in the land, the parish church will not start the Sunday mass without the presence of the family. Their lifestyle was grandeous such that during birthdays of their apos, they would throw away money coins to the neighboring children to appease the residents and one of those who received such monies became the president of the prestigious Cebu College of Commerce. To trace the family tree of Don Clodualdo and our great grandmother Epifania, are the tribe of LOLO ANTONIO ROCA and Lola Regina Corro with eight children namely; 1) Antonia, 2) Rosario, 3) Dolores, 4) Juanito, 5) Cholidad, 6)Condrado, 6) Necitas, 7) Clodualdino. To the tribe of LOLA CARMEN ROCA and Lolo Francisco Marti with their four children namely; 1) Francisco Jr., 2) Sergio, 3) Monserat, 4)Juanita. To the tribe of LOLA CLOTILDE ROCA and Lolo Enrique Carbajal with their five children namely; 1) Candelaria, 2) Ramon, 3) Leonardo, 4) Rizalina, 5) Antoneco. To the tribe of LOLO SALVADOR ROCA and Lola Ester Nemenzo with their nine children namely; 1) Anunciason, 2) Ephemia, 3) Jose (Pepito), 4) Eliseo, 5) Lucela, 6) Salvador, 7) Esperanza, 8) Armando, 9) Gerardo. To the tribe of LOLA CACHITA ROCA and Lolo Hipolito Georpo with their seven children namely; 1) Carmen, 2) Remedios, 3) Carolina, 4) Pepita 5) Amparito 6) Vicente and the seventh(7) child, Milagros. The above Rocamora offsprings are evenly distributed to the islands in the Visayas, Mindanao, and Luzon areas but the present web site of “Rocamora Philippines” is located in Bulua zone 3 Cagayan de Oro where retired colonel Rod M Rocamora is residing. Any changes or corrections to the inputs maybe passed for amendments.